Western Australian businesses vying for prestigious awards

Businesses helping keep people safe at work and at play, as well as those helping other businesses and individuals to prosper, are well represented among the 24 finalists for the 2013 Telstra Western Australian Business Awards.

Aubin Grove’s Armed for Life, which holds bullying and self-esteem workshops to educate and motivate teenagers to make positive life choices, is a finalist along with Welshpool’s MEDIC ONE, the first private training organisation to make nationally endorsed medical education accessible to all Australians, not just those working in the ambulance service.

Knowing how critical pre-hospital care is on outcomes for injured people, MEDIC ONE has also developed e-learning health solutions for people working in remote locations and overseas.

Another finalist, Bedford’s NPB Security was launched in 2010 and already has a contractor workforce of 800 people to meet the growing demand for its security services.

Lifestyle businesses helping people enjoy the bounty of the state are also finalists, including Malaga based ADAMS Group which has built a modern transport fleet from the humble beginnings of just one bus, and Mandurah Cruises & Gift Shop, which started in 2006 with the purchase of the local ferry business and has now grown to include six vessels offering scenic, dolphin-spotting and eco tours.

They are joined by Margaret River’s Harvest Tours which gives tourists a taste of all the delights of the famous gourmet region, and the Swan Valley’s House of Honey, the culmination of one man’s fascination with bees which started in his childhood as a bee keeper.

Finalists helping other people realise their goals include Claremont’s Million Dollar Makeovers which does lightning fast home improvements so people can sell their homes quickly and profitably, and Paid (Previously First Stop Money) which has filled the micro loan void through an online business funding loans of between $250 and $1,000 to Australians and New Zealanders.

Paid (Previously First Stop Money)’s Chief Executive, Tim Dean, noticed a decline in credit card use and launched his business in 2009. Now managing more than 6,000 loans a month, he said Paid (Previously First Stop Money)’s streamlined loan application gives him an “advantage over competitors”.

For companies wanting to build in some of the states’ more remote locations, finalist MUWAY CONSTRUCTIONS steps in providing on-the-ground workforces who are experienced in construction in remote areas as an alternative to fly-in, fly-out workers. The Fitzroy Crossing business employs local Aboriginal people and trains them in recognised trades including carpentry and plumbing.

Will Irving, Telstra Business Group Managing Director and Ambassador for the Telstra Australian Business Awards, said the range and experience of Western Australian businesses vying for this year’s awards was a positive sign and showed a real diversity of thinking in the local economy.

“The calibre of Western Australian finalists in this year’s awards is outstanding and goes to show why small and medium businesses are the backbone of Australia,” Mr Irving said.

“It is so important that we recognise the businesses that support our local communities and celebrate the significant contribution they make by creating jobs, driving innovation and bringing their expertise and innovations to customers - locally and all over the world.”

The finalists for the 2013 Telstra Western Australian Business Awards are: